Supervalu Taps Former United Supermarkets Prez to Helm Acme

Supervalu Taps Former United Supermarkets Prez to Helm Acme

03/24/2010

Former United Supermarkets executive Dan Sanders has been named president of Supervalu’s Philadelphia-based Acme Markets division.

“Dan comes to us with a wealth of experience in the grocery industry and is well positioned to continue to grow Acme in this market,” said Pete Van Helden, EVP of retail operations for Minneapolis-based Supervalu.

With a long history in the grocery business, Sanders was most recently CEO of Lubbock, Texas-based United Supermarkets from 2004 until his resignation in early February. Prior to becoming United’s CEO, Sanders was its chief marketing officer, and earlier in his career was the company’s director of human resources and advertising.

Before his tenure with United Supermarkets, Sanders was an equity partner and division president at AdPlex, Inc., where he specialized in grocery retail advertising and digital asset management. A former Air Force U-2 reconnaissance pilot and a highly decorated officer, Sanders has authored two books on leadership, both published by McGraw-Hill.

“I appreciate Acme’s long-standing history serving customers and being an active supporter of the communities it serves,” said Sanders. “I look forward to being a part of that tradition and doing all that we can to meet the needs — and exceed the expectations — of our customers.”

Sanders replaces Judy Spires, who left Acme Markets on March 12 to join Parsippany, N.J.-based Kings Super Markets, Inc. as the 25-store chain’s new CEO.